UNISCAPE Conference “People and Disciplines in function of Landscape”

The Conference provides an opportunity to critically reflect upon the relationship between landscape, men, and women, but this time from a radically different perspective: from the landscape-centered perspective. How (or why) landscape-centric approach has (and still can) made a significant difference in our lifestyles, habits, and other patterns that design our evolution on the Planet Earth? 

This is also a tribute to the Canarian poet and writer Pedro García Cabrera and his book “El Hombre en función del Paisaje” (Man in the function of the landscape), which inspired not only the title but also the content of this conference, which aims at exploring, among others, the reasons why Art always merges with Landscape Culture to design possible fortunate, although uncertain, expressions of human’s territorial, emotional and metaphysical conditions.

AIMS & CHALLENGES

Landscape is the only model of Earth that keeps people and their environment inextricably linked, whether it’s about their living habitat, perceptions, or desires; landscape gives meaning, territorially and, metaphysically, to people’s universe.

Landscape itself is an agent of environmental change and culture is its basic adaptation mechanism.

People are able to respond to the needs that society and its citizens constantly request by weaving an indispensable interrelationship to implement actions on places and territories that constitute the scenario of a close relationship between the landscape and its inhabitants.

“Beyond the cultural influence and the effective social sensitivity that the European Landscape Convention [Florence, 2000) represents for the territories and their managers, as well as the consensus in the conceptual definition of the term Landscape, we must become aware of a new tool: “The Landscape Project” as a new recognized figure, necessary and essential for a new strategic vision for the territories. Citizens and public opinion should be better informed about the economic, financial and social benefits that this new and original approach can potentially express, useful for addressing a political priority issues where the transversality of knowledge must be able to respond and to influence policies and actions on people, with a direct impact on the territory in which they live” (J.M. Palerm, Conference Cabildo Insular de La Gomera, 2021. Foundation Pedro Garcia Cabrera)

This is the contemporary dimension of the Landscape and its significance in the renewal of the value of both natural and cultural heritage. It should be noted or stressed that the European Landscape Convention, compared to other previous Conventions focused exclusively on the protection of material cultural heritage or on nature conservation, presents some significant innovations.

The concepts of Cultural and Natural Heritage are merged for the first time in an overall vision of the landscape, which contemplates both natural and cultural aspects. Furthermore, it introduces the social dimension of the landscape and considers it as an element of well-being, giving particular importance to the relationship between human beings and the environment in which they live.

This statement seems to be a conclusion contemplated in the text “Man in Function of the Landscape” by Pedro García Cabrera and serves as a driving notion for the conference’s reflective discourse.

Socialmente, no niego la existencia del mago con su traje típico. Ni del sombrerete de paja. Ni otros tantos motivos pobres. Pero yo dije que no hay que confundir la realidad viviente con la realidad artística. Y que estos motivos no son fundamentales para edificar una literatura de región. Que, si el regionalismo es traje, todos los regionalismos están en un almacén de tejidos.Lo que la anterior generación tiene por regional —sigo hablando en plano de arte: selección- depuración- son pseudo-morfismos regionales. Formas regionales adulteradas.
Para purificarlas, si alguna lo merece, o para reeditar las olvidadas hay que volver a la esencia, a las protoformas primitivas. Para ello, estudiemos al hombre en función del Paisaje. Y un arte en función de este hombre”
(Pedro García Cabrera)